Tunable microlens arrays using polymer network liquid crystal

A tunable-focus microlens array based on polymer network liquid crystal (PNLC) is demonstrated. The PNLC was prepared using an ultraviolet (UV) light exposure through a patterned photomask. The photocurable monomer in each of the UV exposed spot forms an inhomogeneous centro-symmetrical polymer network which acts as a lens when a homogeneous electric field is applied to the cell. The focal length of the microlens arrays is tunable with the applied voltage.     

Flat polymeric microlens array

A polymer-based flat microlens array is demonstrated. Within each pixel of the array, the polymer presents a circular central-symmetric inhomogeneous orientation. Pixel with such a structure behaves a lens-like character. A suitable amount of liquid crystal mixed in the polymer host can improve not only the lens flexibility but also the lens performance. Moreover, the polymer-based microlens array has the advantages of real planar surface, ultra-thin thickness, and can be designed with any aperture size.     

Research on micro-optical lenses fabrication technology

We present a detail investigation on the development of a series of gradient index (GRIN) optical glass microlens and polymer microlens and microlens arrays in our laboratory in recent years. The special glass material GRIN lenses have been fabricated mainly by using ion-exchange technology, which are applied to construct micro-optic devices and other applications. On one hand, we demonstrated the light propagation and imaging properties of GRIN lenses and the results analyzed. On the other hand, we have explored a drop-on-demand ink-jet printing method to produce microlens array using nano-scale polymer droplets involved with a uniform ultraviolet light and heat solidifying process. The experimental setup for manufacturing polymer microlens array and the performance of refractive microlens elements are also given in this paper.     

Electrically controllable microlens array fabricated by anisotropic phase separation from liquid-crystal and polymer composite materials

Anisotropic phase separation has been used to fabricate an electrically switchable microlens array from nematic liquid crystals. Nematic liquid-crystal-based microlens arrays have been built with diameters of approximately 400 microm and natural focal lengths as small as 1.6 mm. The focal length of each microlens in the array can be changed in milliseconds by an applied electric field. These devices, which have no internal substructures to scatter light, offer higher efficiency and greater light throughput than polymer dispersed devices.     

Lens Sag Measurement of Microlens Array Using Optical Interferometric Microscope

This study attempted to develop a detection system for lens sag of the microlens array in real time using an optical automatic inspection framework to link with the computer through a camera. An image processing technique was applied to detect the spherical microlens array, and then, the results were compared.The system light source used laser light and applied CCD to collocate with the microscope array to form an automatic optical detection system for an optical interferometric microscope. It applied the principle of the Fizeau interferometer, illuminated the surface of microlens array, and formed the phase difference required by the interference of two lights through the laser light reflected by the reference plane and the surface of the microlens array, thus, forming an interference fringe.When the sag of the microlens was much longer than the wave length of the detection light source, the fringe would be densely distributed, thus, only a few central fringes were clear in the microscopic image. An image processing method was used to search the center of the interference fringe and a creative algorithm was utilized to obtain the lens sag of the microlens. As proved by the experiment, lens sag of 4 microlens arrays were detected in real time, with a minimum detection error of 0.08 μm, and a maximum detection error of 4 μm (error value 1 ~ 9%), according to different sample processes. This system featured a simple structure and is applicable to non-contact detection and detection of different-sized microlens arrays.     

Design and Fabrication of Microlens Array for Near-Field Vertical Cavity Surface Emitting Laser Parallel Optical Head

A GaP microlens for collecting laser light was developed in the tip of a near-field probe. It is important to realize a near-field optical probe head with high throughput and a small spot size. The design and fabrication results of the GaP microlens array are described. The most suitable GaP microlens with a probe was calculated as having a 10 μm radius using the two-dimensional finite difference time domain (2-D FDTD) method. The full width half maximum (FWHM) spot size variation and optical power density tolerance were calculated as 157 nm ± 5 nm and 7%, respectively. A spherical GaP microlens was fabricated with a radius of 10 μm by controlling the Cl₂/Ar gas mixture ratio. The difference between the theoretical spherical shape and the fabricated GaP microlens was evaluated as 40 nm at peak to valley. The FWHM spot size and optical throughput of the fabricated microlens were measured as 520 nm and 63%, respectively. The microlens was the same as a theoretical lens with a 10 μm radius. The micron-lens array fabrication process for a near-field optical head was demonstrated in this experiment.     

Effects of low polymer content in a liquid-crystal microlens

A small number of bifunctional monomers are mixed with a nematic liquid crystal (LC) and cured with a distributed electric field, which is produced by a circular-hole-patterned electrode structure. A gradient type of lens, that is, a LC microlens, is investigated for various polymer concentrations. Addition of 3% polymer is enough to freeze the gradient-index properties of the structure in the form of a convex lens, and a polymer-stabilized LC microlens is demonstrated. Although a lower concentration of polymer cannot hold the distribution properties in a curing process, it can maintain the variable focus as a nematic material can. The polymer networks can also eliminate the disclination line that usually appears and causes the lens in this type of LC device to deteriorate.     

The Effect of Wettability of Nickel Mold Insert on the Surface Quality of Molded Microlenses

In micromolding of microlens array, it is important to prepare a mold insert of superb quality, which contains the micro-cavity of lens shape, because the geometrical quality of the mold insert defines the final quality of the molded micro-optics. In the present study, the electroforming process was used to make the metallic micro-mold insert for micro-molding of microlens array. The wettability property of the fabricated mold isnert was examined by measuring the contact angle of the polymer in the pliable state on the mold insert. Microlenses were compression-molded with the fabricated mold insert. The effects of the molding temperature and wettability property on the replication quality of the molded lenses were analyzed experimentally.     

Ultrathin Planar Microlens Arrays Based on Geometric Metasurface

Ascribing to the properties of two dimensional parallel focusing and imaging, low propagation loss, integration and miniaturization, microlens array has been widely used in imaging, optical communication, organic light emitting devices, adaptive optics, photolithography, biomedical and other applications. However, the existing traditional microlens array suffers from difficulty in fabrication, large‐thickness, curved surface, non‐uniformity of light spots, or requirement of additional discrete components to control the microlens. Herein, a planar microlens array is experimentally demonstrated based on the geometric metasurface. The single microlens is composed of space‐variant subwavelength metallic gratings with high polarization conversion efficiency and thus exhibits gradient phase distribution. The focused spot diameter of 22.5 μm with radius of 350 μm, focal length of 1 cm and the light spots intensity uniformity of 0.9885 (standard deviation 0.0115) at the focal plane are obtained. Moreover, the broadband property of microlens array is also confirmed. The novel design strategy for microlens array would facilitate the miniaturization of optical devices and be easily integrated in the optical interconnected devices.     

光子集成干涉成像系统微透镜排布设计与图像复原

光子集成干涉成像系统体积小、重量轻、功耗小,且系统分辨率不受单个透镜口径尺寸的限制,是一种新兴的成像技术.针对光子集成干涉成像系统图像复原问题,开展了图像复原技术和微透镜阵列最优排布研究,提出了基于压缩感知的光子集成干涉成像图像恢复技术,以及基于图像残差的最优微透镜阵列排布设计评估方法;通过计算仿真,可实现在有限空间体...     

六角形孔径平面微透镜阵列的制作及基本特性研究

采用光刻离子交换工艺制作了六角形孔径平面微透镜阵列.离子交换后的变折射率区域有微小重叠,填充系数可达95%以上.对制作的六角形孔径平面微透镜进行了折射率分布、数值孔径和像差等光学特性测试,得到的六角形孔径平面微透镜阵列光学性能均匀,成像质量较好的结果.该透镜阵列的研制成功为制作高质量高填充系数透镜阵列及模拟生物复眼光学系统奠定了基础.     

Applications of Liquid Crystals to Variable-Focusing Lenses

Liquid Crystal (LC) lens cells with variable focusing properties are fabricated using nematic LC materials and applicable to optical devices, and our recent work on these cells is described. First, the LC lens cells are prepared using lens-shaped substrates coated with transparent electrodes. Their focal length can be continuously varied between the values for an ordinary ray and an extraordinary ray by changing the voltage passing across them. Methods of improving properties and some applications of the lens-shaped LC lens are briefly described. The lens properties of these cells with plane-paralleled structure are then demonstrated, where the refractive index is graded to a quadratic distribution resulting from an axially symmetric non-uniform electric field. LC cells with axially distributed tilt angles are constructed using a pair of circular hole-patterned electrode substrates and very small LC lens (LC microlens) with variable focusing can be fabricated. Optimizing the electrode structure, device parameters, and material parameters of the LCs, excellent focusing properties can be obtained. The properties of the LC microlens are improved by using the polymer stabilization technique. The LC microlens with a divided electrode structure shows three-dimensional beam steering and focusing properties, and the astigmatic aberration caused by the molecular orientation effect can be compensated. Applications of the LC microlens to optical devices and systems are introduced.     

紫外衍射微透镜阵列的设计与制备

为了提高紫外焦平面阵列的填充因子,可以通过微透镜阵列与紫外焦平面阵列的集成,以改善紫外焦平面阵列的探测性能。根据标量衍射理论设计了用于日盲型紫外焦平面阵列的128×128衍射微透镜阵列,其工作中心波长为350nm,单元透镜F数为F/3.56。采用组合多层镀膜与剥离的工艺方法制备了128×128衍射微透镜阵列,对具体的工艺流程和制备误差进行了分析,测量了衍射微透镜阵列的光学性能。实验结果表明:衍射微透镜阵列的衍射效率为88%,与理论值95%有偏差,制备误差主要来自对准误差和线宽误差。紫外衍射微透镜阵列具有均匀的焦斑分布,与紫外焦平面阵列单片集成能较好地改善器件的整体性能。     

基于微透镜阵列的LED光学性能

功率型发光二极管(LED)的发展迫切需要提高取光效率,基于微透镜阵列的二次光学设计是改善其取光效率的有效途径。建立了一种大功率LED的封装结构,二次光学设计采用了微透镜阵列技术,运用光线追踪法研究了这种封装结构的光学性能。分析结果表明:利用微透镜阵列技术能显著改善LED的光学性能,提高取光效率,能将LED的亮度衰减降低12%以上,得到了较好的效果。     

用按需滴定技术制备聚合物微透镜阵列

采用高分子聚合物-单体混合溶液按需滴定-原位热聚合的新方法制作折射微透镜及其阵列.制备透镜的主要材料是甲基丙烯酸甲酯及其聚合物.制备的微透镜直径在1 mm～3 mm范围内,矢高为100 μm～400 μm,透镜焦距在1 mm～4 mm之间.所得微透镜在波长λ=1.55 μm处有很好的光学透过率(90%),适于作光通信耦合器件.用AFM-Ⅱ型原子力显微镜测得微透镜阵列的表面粗糙度Ra约等于0.9 nm,并通过液体的表面张力理论分析了微透镜的形成机理.     

Diffractive Microlens Array Monolithic Integration with PtSi Focal Plane array

Diffractive microlens arrays can completely collect the light at the focal plane and concentrate it into a smaller spot size on the detector plane, the photodetector area can be substantially reduced. Increased gamma radiation hardening and noise reduction result from the decrease in photodetector sensitive area. The diffractive microlens arrays have been designed by considering the correlative optical and processing parameters for PtSi focal plane array. They have been fabricated on the backside of PtSi focal plane array chip by successive photolithography and Ar⁺ ion-beam-etching technique. The alignment of microlens array with PtSi focal plane array was completed by a backside aligner with IR light source. The practical processes and fabrication method are discussed. The performance parameters of PtSi FPA with diffractive microlens array are presented.     

用于红外焦平面的正方形孔径球面微透镜阵列研究

针对目前红外焦平面光敏阵列中存在的占空比小、光能利用率低的实际问题,展开了正方形孔径球面微透镜阵列制作及其与红外焦平面阵列集成应用的研究.本文从红外焦平面光敏阵列特点入手,对比分析了正方形孔径相比于传统圆形孔径微透镜阵列在光能利用上的优势.提出正方形孔径微透镜阵列激光直写变剂量曝光制作技术,建立光刻胶曝光数学模型和正方形球面微透镜面型函数,以此为基础,编制直写设备变剂量曝光控制软件;利用长春理工大的学复合坐标激光直写系统和等离子刻蚀机进行相关工艺实验,制作了阵列256×256、单元尺寸40×40μm2、球面半径60μm、单元间距1μm的红外石英微透镜阵列;并将其与相应阵列的碲-镉-汞红外光敏阵列进行集成.结果表明:微透镜的占空比达到95%,红外焦平面光能利用率从原来的60%提高到90%以上.由此得出结论:变剂量曝光制作微透镜技术是可行的,正方形孔径球面微透镜阵列代替圆形孔径微透镜阵列,对于提高红外探测器的灵敏度、信噪比、分辨率等性能具备明显优势.     

用于红外焦平面的正方形孔径球面微透镜阵列研究

针对目前红外焦平面光敏阵列中存在的占空比小、光能利用率低的实际问题,展开了正方形孔径球面微透镜阵列制作及其与红外焦平面阵列集成应用的研究.本文从红外焦平面光敏阵列特点入手,对比分析了正方形孔径相比于传统圆形孔径微透镜阵列在光能利用上的优势.提出正方形孔径微透镜阵列激光直写变剂量曝光制作技术,建立光刻胶曝光数学模型和正方形球面微透镜面型函数,以此为基础,编制直写设备变剂量曝光控制软件;利用长春理工大的学复合坐标激光直写系统和等离子刻蚀机进行相关工艺实验,制作了阵列256×256、单元尺寸40×40 μm²、球面半径60 μm、单元间距1 μm的红外石英微透镜阵列;并将其与相应阵列的碲-镉-汞红外光敏阵列进行集成.结果表明:微透镜的占空比达到95%,红外焦平面光能利用率从原来的60%提高到90% 以上.由此得出结论:变剂量曝光制作微透镜技术是可行的,正方形孔径球面微透镜阵列代替圆形孔径微透镜阵列,对于提高红外探测器的灵敏度、信噪比、分辨率等性能具备明显优势.     

Design and fabrication of a microlens array by use of a slow tool servo

In recent years it has become possible to fabricate free-form optics by use of multiaxis ultraprecision machines. Here a 5 x 5 microlens array is fabricated by using an ultraprecision diamond turning machine equipped with four independent axes. Unlike the conventional process where a single diamond tool is used to machine one lens at a time, this research demonstrates the development of an innovative diamond tool trajectory that allows the entire microlens array to be machined in a single operation. The machined microlens array is measured for both curve conformity and surface roughness. Compared to the conventional approach where indexing the workpiece is difficult and unreliable, this process can produce microlenses with accurate geometry and optical surface finish. This unique process is described in detail from optical measurement to machining process design and development to final results. This research also demonstrates the possibility of fabricating any arbitrary shape with the same approach.     

Focusing in microlenses close to a wavelength in diameter

Light focused from air into a spherical microlens is affected by diffraction at the lens surface as its diameter approaches the wavelength of light. Through an extension of Mie theory, we show that a converging wave that is incident upon a Si microlens with a diameter less than approximately 4lambda creates a spot as much as 25% smaller than predicted with vector diffraction theory. Si microlenses only a wavelength in diameter are shown to be virtually insensitive to variations in the maximum illumination angle, and changes in index of refraction are not found to cause the proportional changes in spot size that would be expected from vector diffraction theory.